In the history of the medical profession of Taylor county Dr. Franklin G. JOHNSON deserves mention, for his thorough preparation and native talents have made him an able physician and one who is conscientious and faithful in the performance of his professional duties. Widely known throughout Taylor, Ringgold and Worth counties, his history cannot fail to interest many of the readers of this volume.

One of Iowa's native sons, Dr. JOHNSON was born in Mahaska county on the 23d of December, 1874, and is a son of M. F. and Emma C. (DURHAM) JOHNSON. The father, who was a native of New York, was one of the early settlers of Mahaska county, who later moved to Adams county, where he passed away in 1876. His wife, who was also born in the Empire state, survived for some time and was again married, since which time she and her second husband have both been called to their final rest.

Dr. JOHNSON was but two years of age when he lost his father, and he was reared to manhood in Afton, Iowa, where he attended the common schools in the acquirement of his preliminary education, passing through consecutive grades until he was graduated from the Afton high school in 1891. After his graduation he learned telegraphy, and then, deciding to make the medical profession his life work, he began reading medicine under Dr. M. B. COLTRANE, of Afton. His first course of lectures was pursued at the university at Iowa City during the scholastic year 1897-98, while later he pursued a course of study at the Kansas City Medical College, graduating from the medico-chirurgical department with the class of 1901. He immediately located for practice at Gault, Grundy county, where he remained for only a few months however, and then removed to Conception, Missouri. He followed his profession there until the spring of 1904, in which year he arrived in Athelstan, where he has since continued in the active practice of medicine. During the five years of his residence in this city he has been accorded a large and steadily increasing patronage, and he has become recognized as one of the efficient and eminent physicians of his section of the state, keeping in touch with the trend of general progress in professional lines and by his own investigation and research also adding much to his knowledge and ability. He is well fitted for his chosen calling, both by natural endowment and by thorough training, and anything that serves to bring to man the key to that mystery which we call life is of deep interest to him.

It was on the 20th of September, 1899, that Dr. JOHNSON was united in marriage to Miss Laura BURGESS, a native of Union county, Iowa, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Nathan BURGESS, one of the old settlers of Union county, now engaged in agricultural pursuits on a farm near Afton, Iowa. Unto this union have been born three children, namely, Nathan L., Hazel and Earl.

In politics Dr. JOHNSON is a stalwart supporter of the republican party. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, in the work of which they are both deeply and helpfully interested, while fraternally he holds membership with the Masons, belonging to Blockton Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He likewise belongs to Athelstan Lodge, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the chairs, and is a past grand, and served as district deputy one year. He has become a very successful practitioner, for realizing fully the obligations that devolve upon him in his professional capacity, he performs all duties with a sense of conscientious obligation and has won favorable regard by reason of his skill and his personal worth. He is widely recognized as a well known physician throughout Taylor, Ringgold and Worth counties, the consensus of public opinion according him prominence, while the profession recognizes his worth in the chosen field of his practice.

SOURCE:  CROSSON, Frank E. History of Taylor County, Iowa: From The Earliest Historic Times to 1910  Pp. 404 - 405. S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, 2008